Standing there, more than 33 feet separating her from the water, forces Rachel Rubadue to muster a measure of courage before every leap.

It’s gotten better for the University of Tennessee junior diver. In fact, once a youngster with a fear of heights, Rubadue has now found her comfort zone on the 10-meter platform.

She showed her command of the event Wednesday when she won the platform competition at the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships at Allan Jones Aquatic Center.

The victory, which came by more than 30 points (590.35-559.60) over Florida International’s Rebecca Quesnel, allowed Rubadue to advance to the NCAA Championships in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio, beginning March 14.

Earlier this week, Rubadue had locked down finals spots in the 1-meter (fourth place) and 3-meter (sixth) springboard events.

“This was a really good win for me,” Rubadue said. “This year has been up and down. It gives me confidence going into NCAAs.”

Rachel Rubadue(Photo: Craig Bisacre/Tennessee Athletics)

Rubadue’s most striking takeaway from this week’s competition came in the platform preliminaries. She struggled early, landing in the middle of what turned out to be 18 qualifiers to the finals, then rallied to qualify first.

“I learned never to give up,” she said. “It’s never over ‘til it’s over. I could have given up (after her first two of five prelim dives) and said, ‘It’s over.’ ‘Do the dive, it’s in the past. Focus on the next one.’

“I knew I had to nail the next (three) dives. I stayed focused and did what I had to do.”

Confidence helps a strong season

Rubadue’s best finish in the NCAA championships has been a 14th place (All-America honorable mention) on the 1-meter as a freshman. Last year, 19th place on the platform was her top showing.

This will be her opportunity for a breakout performance.

“Last year, coming off such a good year, I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got this again,’” Rubadue said. “I don’t know if mentally I was really there. This year, I was stronger, healthier and better.”

Tennessee diving coach Dave Parrington didn’t necessarily agree that last year was a struggle for Rubadue. He noted that a second-place finish in the platform at the SEC meet, which she matched this season, was hardly a step backward,even though she won the event as a freshman.

“I wouldn’t have called second in the SEC a slump, but she didn’t have a good NCAA,” Parrington said. “She certainly has, to this point, raised her game. I like where she’s at mentally and the way she’s diving.

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“She learned a lot from not being quite where she wanted to be her sophomore year. She’s been more focused and has gotten physically stronger. That gives you a lot more confidence.”

Going back to Ohio State with an NCAA title on the line should work in Rubadue’s favor.

“I’m excited to have my whole family watching me,” she said. “I thought about (attending Ohio State), but I felt it was a little too close to home. I wanted to get out there and try something new. I really loved Tennessee. It felt like family.”